Sealing patch for evaporated milk cans

ABSTRACT

A can end closure with fill opening and a foil patch secured over said opening by means of a plastic adhesive. The filler hole is larger than conventional and the profile of the can lid includes a protective wall around the filling opening defining a well into which the seal is placed to protect it from accidental removal. The principal purpose of the invention is to eliminate the use of solder in covering the filling opening which in the past occasionally has resulted in pellets of solder being deposited in the contents of the can.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Eldred W. Bowen 924.507 6/1909Strathmann 220/53 Brentwood,Mo. 2,391.33? 12/19 45 ONeil. 220/27 X [21]Appl. No. 868,261 3,204,810 9/1965 Eckman 220/27 X [22] Filed Sept.2,1969 3.245.576 4/1966 Griese lrr u 220/53 Division oi'Ser. No.634.280. Apr. 27. 1967. $355,059 11/1967 Balocca et al. .1 220/53 Pat.No. 3,517,476 3,380,622 4/1968 Garavaglia etalh 11111111 220/53 [45]Patented July 13, 1971 FORElGN PATENTS [731 mmpmled 260,536 3/1949Switzerland 220/66 St. Louis, Mo.

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant ExaminerJames R. GarrettAttorney-Gravely, Lieder & Woodruff [54] SEALING PATCH FOR EVAPORATEDMILK CANS 5 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: A can end closure withfill openmg and a for] patch secured over said opening by means of aplastic adhe- [52] US. Cl i l r r A. 220/66 Sive [51] Cl 365d 7/42 Thefiller hole is larger than conventional and the profile of [50] Field ofSearch 220/66, 53, the can lid includes a protective wall around thefini open 27; 229/7 ing defining a well into which the seal is placed toprotect it from accidental removal. The rinci a1 u ose of the inven-[56] References cued tion is to eliminate the use of sold r ir i veringthe filling UNITED STATES PATENTS opening which in the past occasionallyhas resulted in pellets 420,116 1/1890 Smith 220/66 X of solder beingdeposited in the contents of the can.

PATENTEDJULIBISYI 3,592 353 sum 2 0r 5 m FIGA FIGS PATENTED JUL 1 3 197aSHEET 5 BF 5' SEALING PATCH FOR EVAPORATED MILK CANS This application isa 634,280, filed Apr. 27, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,476.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the principal difficulties inevaporated milk canning has been the soldering ofthe filler opening toseal the can after it is filled with fluid. In the sealing of the canopenings, occasionally pellets of solder have been deposited within thefluid and this is unsatisfactory as far as users are concerned.Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is toprovide a can patch for sealing filling openings in object of thepresent invention is to provide a method and mechanism for efficiently,rapidly, and inexpensively applying and sealing the aforesaid patch tothe can end.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is avertical sectional view, partly in elevation of the patch sealingmechanism;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a can patch applying mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view ofa can lid having a seal patch applied;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

division of application Ser. No.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified can patch;

FIG. 6 is a plan layout ofthe filling and sealing sequence; FIG. 7 is aschematic layout ofa cycle through the can sealing process as the canand patch progress around the wheel;

FIG. 8 is a schematic arrangement of the electrical system for thesealer;

FIG. 9 is a schematic arrangement of the air system for the sealer;

FIG. I0 is an enlarged sectional view ofa further modification of canlid and seal patch;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of still another modification ofcan lid and seal patch;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view showing an improved can lid;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the patch applicator wheel; and

FIG. 14 is a front view ofthe distributor hub ofthe patch applicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The assembled evaporated milk cans which havebottoms and lids soldered to cylindrical sides are positioned in a 60cell rotating table I0 known as a filler (FIG. 6). The lids each areprovided with central filling openings, and in turn, the cans are passedbeneath filling heads (not shown) where they are filled with evaporatedmilk. This equipment is conventional in an evaporated milk processingplant. From the filler head, the cans are passed to a 20 cell rotatingsteam cleaner 11 (which could be an air cleaner). At this station 11,the can top is exposed to live steam to clean excess milk and any otherforeign matter which may have accumulated thereon. This is conventionalin present operations. From the steam cleaner 11 the filled cans arepassed to a 20 cell rotating patch feeder l2. The directions of rotationof the various tables are indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6. The patchfeeder assembly 12 applies can patch, the patch is cooled with pressurestill on, and the cans are discharged to a sterilizing unit. The detailsof the heat-sealing assembly are shown in FIG. 1 and will be describedhereinafter.

PATCH FEEDER The patch-feeder assembly 12 as shown in FIG. 13 andincludes a main lower rotating table 15 having cells 16 on the outerperiphery thereof. The table 15 is driven by a main shaft 17. The shaft17 extends upwardly through the table 15 and at 17a mounts a feeder discshaft 18 portion 17a.

The bevel gear 23 includes a lower portion 23a keyed to the lower shaft17 and having 40 teeth, an intermediate portion 231) having 20 teeth andan upper portion 23c keyed to the hollow feeder disc shaft 18 and having40 teeth.

Positioned between the magazine table 19 and the can table I5 is a patchtransfer mechanism 24. The mechanism 24 includes a shaft 23 pinned tothe intermediate gear portion 23b and having a distributor head 26adjacent to its outer end.

A gusset 27 is connected to a main shaft bearing housing 28 shaftbearing housing 29 around the feeder shaft 25.

The feeder shaft bearing 29 is keyed to a supply hub 30 ing conduit 33communicates the port 32 to a curved manifold slot 34 which extendsabout l in the face of the supply hub 30. The manifold slot 34 isaligned with openings 35 in the gasket 31. Facing the supply hub 30(FIG. 14), the slot 34 extends from about 198 to 360.

An opening to atmosphere or a slight positive pressure supply port 36also is provided in the supply hub 30. The port 36 each ofthe ports 39with the gasket openings 35 and therefore also with the vacuum slot 34and with the pressure conduit 37 so as to provide a source of vacuum orpressure to the placer tubes 38.

As the feeder shaft 25 rotates, each of the placer tubes 38 is connectedto vacuum immediately prior to its coming beneath a supply tube so as toengage and maintain a disc 41 on the end of the placer tube 38. Thevacuum is maintained as the distributor hub 26 rotates because ofconstant communication of the conduit 40 with the vacuum slot 34.Immediately prior to the engagement of the patch 41 with the top of acan in a pocket 16, the conduit 40 passes the end of the vacuum slot 34and engages the pressure conduit 37. Therefore, the patch 41 from theend of the feeder tube 38 is dropped onto the top of the can in thepocket 16.

A ball valve 390 of smaller diameter than the conduit 39 but ofsufficient size to seal the conduit 35 rests in each ofthe conduits 39and seals the conduit 35 if a patch 41 is lost from the end of a tube 38to preserve the vacuum in the rest of the system.

A torque arm 42 is fixed to the frame of the machine and providesoutboard support for the feeder shaft and prevents rotation of thefeeder mechanism 24.

The supply tubes 20 are provided with supply tube-mounting sleeves 43positioned to fit in openings 44 formed around the peripheral edge ofthe feeder disc 19 and held therein by a setscrew 45. The mouth of themounting sleeve 43 is a die that is used to form the patches 41 and arepunched directly into the supply tube 20. When a supply tube 20 isempty, the mounting sleeve 43 and supply tube 20 are removed from theopening 44 and a new full tube 20 and its sleeve 43 are positioned inthe vacated opening 44. Alternately, filled supply tubes 20 can beplaced in the sleeves 43. The plurality of feeder head or tube 20provides reliability at high speeds. If one tube 20 should fail, onlyone can in 20 is lost in production.

The rotation of the pocket wheel 15, the feed shaft 25 and the feederdisc 19 are timed so that the can patches 41 are removed from themagazine 20 and carried around and deposited in the center opening of afilled can end at the rate of 250--500 cans per minute.

SEALER CONSTRUCTION The heat-sealer mechanism is shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8and 9 and includes as many heat sealers 46 as there are cells 47 on thepocket wheel 14. Each of the cells 47 is lined with a stainless steelinsert 47a. The sealing table 14 includes a main gear 14a having teeth1412 on the outer periphery and a steel plate 14c fixed to the uppersurface to seat the cans 53. The can cells 47 are on the outer ends ofarms 48. The gear 14a and the arms 48 rotate about a center hub 49 whichcontains the main electrical and air supply. A main drive motor (notshown) drives the gear 14a. An outboard support 50 supports the can 53until the heating element 46 engages the top of the can 53. A fixedouter retainer 51 is spaced outwardly from the cans 53 on the table 14and extends over about 300 of the circumference of the table 14. Theentrance area Md and the exit area 14c are open and it is here that thecans 53 enter on and are removed from the table 14 (FIG. 7). A post 52threaded on both ends is positioned on each arm 48 and verticallyadjustably mounts an air cylinder mounting air 54 to which the heatsealer mechanism 46 is affixed. The mechanism 46 includes a pneumaticcylinder and piston 55 which has a heat sealing construction on the endof the piston rod. The heat sealer construction itself comprises atransformer 56 and two secondary leads 57 and 58 and a circular annularheating element 59 which engages the upper surface of a seal positionedon a can lid beneath the mechanism 46.

Connected to the leads 57 and 58 are heat sinks 57a and 58a, whichdissipate excess heat from the heating element 59. The heating element59 is positioned around a heat insulating and electrically insulatingmember 60 which includes a circular leading portion 60a shaped to fitwithin a recess in the can top and to there engage the patch 41 so assimultaneously to curved or outwardly dished to be sure that the heatingelement 59 engages the seal 41 all around the can opening.

The heating element 59 (FIG. 8) comprises a circular central portion 59ahaving a central round opening 59b and op- I posed outwardly extendinglead connecting portions 59: which have diverging sides 59d and a dishedaperture 59 in the connecting edge 59f.

The electrical supply for the heat sealer is shown schematically in FIG.8 and includes a voltage source connected to the transformer 56 byvariable voltage control 61 and slip rings 62. The slip rings 62 connectto the supply in the central hub 49. A switch 63 establishes andinterrupts voltage to the transformer 56 by means of fixed switchactivators (not shown) as the heat sealer 46 rotates with the table 14.A main electrical and air manifold M is mounted on a rearward extensionof the mounting arm 54 and rotates therewith. The manifold M" iscircular and extends around the center hub 49. The manifold M is inthree sections M-ll" being the electrical manifold and housingelectrical supply to each transformer 56 and its on-off switch 63.

As mentioned, the heating element 59 comprises a circular doughnutshaped central portion 59a having triangularly shaped outwardly flaredleads 59c connected thereto. This arrangement provides maximum heatdissipation and sufficient heat to provide efficient effective sealing.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of the air supply and control system. A regulatedline supply 64 connects to a valve 65 which dispenses a pressure P1 tothe system. This can be varied depending on the requirement for pressurewhich is to be applied to the can patch 41. A rotary seal 65a in theouter hub 49 supplies the pressure Pl to the system through a conduit66. A header or manifold M-Z" is positioned on the electrical manifoldM-l and supplies energizing air to all of the air cylinders 55. Athree-way air valve or switch 68 (operated by a cam switch 681: as theswitch 68 rotates with the table 14, the cam not being shown)communicates and interrupts air pressure to the action side of theactuator cylinder 55 through a cylinder actuating supply conduit 67. Ametering valve 69 is positioned in the line 67 to control the speedofoperation of the piston in its downward stroke. The piston does notreach the end of its stroke before engaging the can top to insureconstant equal pressure sealing on the foil.

The reaction conduit 70 receives a constant pressure P2 (less than P1)from a manifold NI-3 which receives this air pressure from a constantpressure reducing valve 71 positioned in conduit 72 between it andconduit 66 from the center hub 49. The pressure P2 overcomes the gravityof the sealer piston and returns it to its inactive position when thevalve 68 interrupts the acting pressure to the cylinder 55. Thus thepressure P2 constantly acts against the piston and must be overcome whenthe valve 68 supplies the pressure P1 to the action side of the piston.

As seen in FIG. 7, when the can 53 having a patch positioned in thecentral opening of the lid enters a pocket 47 on the heat-sealing wheel14 from the transfer wheel 13, pressure PI is applied to the piston ofthe heat sealer 55 and the heat seal head 60 seats the can patch firmlyon the can lid. This takes about I second. Current is applied by closingthe switch 63 and the heat-sealer element 59 heats up. Current issupplied to the sealer element 59 for about 6 seconds, which issufficient time to melt the thermoplastic adhesive on the underside ofthe can patch and cause it to flow by reason of the pressure applied bythe heat sealer and to firmly seat the patch over the lid centralopening. At this point, the switch 63 is opened, and the heat leaves theheat seal element 59 by means of the heat sinks 57a and 58a. Pressure ismaintained in the cylinder 55 for about 7 seconds, while the patch coolsand the thermoplastic adhesive sets. At this point the valve 68 isopened to atmosphere and the return pressure P2 disengages CAN LIDSTRUCTURES In addition to the novel can patch 41 which comprises anouter foil 75 of hard aluminum or other suitable material, and an innerthermoplastic adhesive 76 which is inactive in the presence ofevaporated milk and which seals to metal and melts at 500900 F., thepresent invention also comprises the can lid structure 77 shown in FIG.12. This improved can lid includes an outer rim 78 having a raisedshoulder 79 around the outer periphery of the can lid upper surface. Aflat horizontal portion 80 is adjacent to the shoulder 79 and isconnected by an inclined shoulder 81 to a second lower inwardly disposedhorizontal portion 82 which in turn is connected by an inclined shoulder83 to a third wider innermost flat horizontal portion 84. An oppositelyinclined raised rim 85 terminates in a raised edge 86 connected to areversely inclined conical surface 87 which terminates in a depressedflat horizontal central surface 88 having a central can filling opening89 formed therein. The opening is one-eighth-threeeighths inches indiameter. The can patch 41 is positioned in the depressed portion 88 andwhen the heat is applied, the thermoplastic adhesive 76 flows so as tofill the space between the ends of the can patch 41 and the shoulder 87and also tends to flow around the vertical surface 89 which defines thefill opening. This effectively seals all the metal surfaces which mightcause contamination if in contact with the milk within the can 53 andalso prevents there being any exposed edges on the can patch 41 whichcould be loosened to remove the patch 41.

FIG. 4 shows a can patch 41 positioned in a depression in a can lid 770with the adhesive flowed around the outer edges of the foil 75.

in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the can patch foil portion 75 has acentral portion 750 which is pushed partly into the fill opening 89,This is not always necessary for effective sealing but has someadvantages in certain situations. This helps insure that adhesive coversthe fill opening edges 39.

FIG. shows a modification of the arrangement wherein the can end 770 hasa spiral groove 90 cut into its upper surface. This is filled by the canpatch adhesive 76 and tends to cause the patch 41 to stick more firmlyto the can top 77a.

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of the present invention wherein thecentral portion 880 of the can top 77b is inclined at 10 from thehorizontal between the central opening 89 and the conical surface 87.This provides additional strength for the can patch 41.

It has been found using hard aluminum foil patches of 5 mill thicknessthat one-eighth inch overlap of the patch on the can around the fillopening is necessary for good adhesion after sterilization.

The can patch is below the surface of the can lid to prevent the patchfrom being rubbed or scraped off the can lid during sterilization whenthe can ends engage each other.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifcations of theexamples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure,which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Iclaim:

1. In a can having closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement whichcomprises a lid having a central fill opening surrounded by anupstanding wall spaced from and defining a depressed annular portionbetween the wall and the fill opening, a foil cover over the fillopening nested within the upstanding wall and overlying moplasticadhesive securing the foil cover to the upper surface of the annularportion in a seal engagement to close the fill opening without solder,the adhesive being flowed between the peripheral edge of the foil andthe inner surface of the up standing wall.

2. In a can having closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement whichcomprises a lid having a central fill opening surrounded by anupstanding wall spaced from and defining a depressed annular portionbetween the wall and the fill opening, a foil cover over the fillopening nested within the upstanding wall and overlying said annularportion, and a thermoplastic adhesive securing the foil cover to theupper surface of the annular portion in a seal engagement to close thefill opening without solder, the foil being depressed in a circularcentral area of less diameter than the fill opening and concentrictherewith andthe adhesive being of the fill opening to protect the edgecan.

3. In a can having closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement whichcomprises a lid having a central fill opening surrounded by anupstanding wall spaced from and defining a depressed annular portionbetween the wall and the fill opening, a foil cover over the fillopening nested within the upstanding wall and overlying said annularportion, and a thermoplastic adhesive securing the foil cover to theupper surface of the annular portion in a seal engagement to close thefill opening without solder, the depressed annular portion of the lidbeing provided with indentations on its upper surface and the adhesivebeing anchored within said indentations.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the indentations are in the form ofcurved grooves.

5. In a can having closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement whichcomprises a lid having a central fill opening surrounded by anupstanding wall spaced from and defining a depressed annular portionbetween the wall and the fill opening, a foil cover over the fillopening nested within the upstanding wall and overlying said annularportion, and a thermoplastic adhesive securing the foil cover to theupper surface of the annular portion in a seal engagement to close thefill opening without solder, the upstanding wall of the lid terminatingin an annular flat section which is connected to a second outwardlypositioned annular fiat section by an upwardly flared connectionsection, said second outwardly positioned annular flat section beingconnected to a third still farther outwardly positioned annular flatsection by an upwardly flared connection section, said first annularsection being on an approximate horizontal level with the depressedannular portion, the third annular section being at an approximatehorizontal level with the top of the upstanding wall and the secondannular flat section being at an intermediate horizontal level, thethird annular section terminating in a raised rim and a downwardlydepending skirt surrounding the lid.

from the contents of the said annular portion, and a ther flowed aroundthe edge.

1. In a can having closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement whichcomprises a lid having a central fill opening surrounded by anupstanding wall spaced from and defining a depressed annular portionbetween the wall and the fill opening, a foil cover over the fillopening nested within the upstanding wall and overlying said annularportion, and a thermoplastic adhesive securing the foil cover to theupper surface of the annular portion in a seal engagement to close thefill opening without solder, the adhesive being flowed between theperipheral edge of the foil and the inner surface of the upstandingwall.
 2. In a can having closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvementwhich comprises a lid having a central fill opening surrounded by anupstanding wall spaced from and defining a depressed annular portionbetween the wall and the fill opening, a foil cover over the fillopening nested within the upstanding wall and overlying said annularportion, and a thermoplastic adhesive securing the foil cover to theupper surface of the annular portion in a seal engagement to close thefill opening without solder, the foil being depressed in a circularcentral area of less diameter than the fill opening and concentrictherewith and the adhesive being flowed around the edge of the fillopening to protect the edge from the contents of the can.
 3. In a canhaving closed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement which comprises alid having a central fill opening surrounded by an upstanding wallspaced from and defining a depressed annular portion between the walland the fill opening, a foil cover over the fill opening nested withinthe upstanding wall and overlying said annular portion, and athermoplastic adhesive securing the foil cover to the upper surface ofthe annular portion in a seal engagement to close the fill openingwithout solder, the depressed annular portion of the lid being providedwith indentations on its upper surface and the adhesive being anchoredwithin said indentations.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein theindentations are in the form of curved grooves.
 5. In a can havingclosed sides, top, and bottom, the improvement which comprises a lidhaving a central fill opening surrounded by an upstanding wall spacedfrom and defining a depressed annular portion between the wall and thefill opening, a foil cover over the fill opening nested within theupstanding wall and overlying said annular portion, and a thermoplasticadhesive securing the foil cover to the upper surface of the annularportion in a seal engagement to close the fill opening without solder,the upstanding wall of the lid terminating in an annular flat sectionwhich is connected to a second outwardly positioned annular flat sectionby an upwardly flared connection section, said second outwardlypositioned annular flat section being connected to a third still fartheroutwardly positioned annular flat section by an upwardly flaredconnection section, said first annular section being on an approximatehorizontal level with the depressed annular portion, the third annularsection being at an approximate horizontal level with the top of theupstanding wall and the second annular flat section being at anintermediate horizontal level, the third annular section terminating ina raised rim and a downwardly depending skirt surrounding the lid.